Tar distributor for pavement



Oct. 17, 1967 E. N. LUNDE 3,347,138

TAR DISTRIBUTOR FOR PAVEMENT Filed June 23, 1965 H 5 33 32 3/35 fivwwraxa ii Q I 57/ fARL Alum/0E United States Patent ABSTRACT 6F THE DISCLOSURE A tar distributor device comprising an elongate U- shaped distributor member including the rear tar retaining wall and opposed substantially parallel longitudinal side walls integrally formed with and extending from the rear wall, and a substantially rigid mounting frame including side plates fixedly attached to the side walls. The lower edge of said walls defining a continuous surface engaging edge. An elongate handle having a pair of legs fixedly secured to one end thereof and extending therefrom and being pivotally connected to the rigid mounting frame to permit relative pivoting movement between the distributor member and the handle.

This invention relates to a tool useful in distributing and leveling tar or the like and particularly relates to a tool for smoothing and leveling tar and removing excess tar from joints in concrete pavements to effect a joint with a plane in co-planar relation to the concrete pavement.

In the laying of concrete pavements, sidewalks and the like, transverse expansion joints must be provided to allow for expansion and contraction of the concrete, which expansion and contraction is due to variations in temperature and humidity. In laying a concrete pavement, for example, the pavement is laid in a typical width of eleven feet continuously for the length of pavement desired. When the concrete has cured sufficiently, transverse expansion joints are formed by sawing into the depth of the concrete but not necessarily completely through the depth of the concrete. As the concrete continues to cure, a transverse crack emanating from each sawed joint passes completely through the depth of the concrete thereby forming concrete slabs. The sawing of these transverse joints takes place at predetermined intervals to allow for seasonal contraction and expansion, without buckling or heaving of individual concrete slabs. A second slab is typically laid in the same direction but after the first strip is cured. This leaves a longitudinal joint caused by forms which must be placed alongside the first concrete strip.

Pavements, sidewalks, alleys and the like, which have been laid in this manner, must be supplied with a filler material between the transverse and longitudinal joints, in order to effect a safe, smooth riding or walking surface. These joints must be filled with a substance which will absorb the expansion of side-by-side slabs without causing the slab to buckle or raise. The substance must also be firm enough to provide a bearing surface for either pedestrians or vehicles. It has been found that a suitable fillermaterial is tar in a semi-liquid state. Also available are such items as asphalt, rubberized asphalt, rubber or any of several known plastic compositions. The filler material may be supplied on the joint to be treated in any of several Ways, a typical way being simply a modified sprinkling can to pour, for example, semi-liquid tar into a joint. Next the filler material must be forced into the joint to as great a depth as possible, yet the material should not be allowed to flow in any amount upon the surface of the concrete slab.

Seasonal expansion forces the filler material from the joint, yet the following seasonal contraction does not allow the filler material to flow back into the joint. Consequently periodic checks must be made to determine the necessity for applying additional amounts of filler material to a pavement which has undergone sufficient expansion and contraction. Therefore, both new and old concrete surfaces require periodic placement of filler material in the longitudinal and transverse joints.

Additionally, potholes, recesses, cracks and other areas of pavement deterioration must be repaired from time to time. Typically there is a different factor of expansion and contraction between repair material and the pavement. This results in irregular joints between the repair material and the pavement, which necessitates the same procedure as outlined above for the seasonal treatment of these joints with filler material. Bituminous, as well as portland cement concrete pavements develop expansion joints or cracks which are readily repaired by simply supplying filler material to the joints or cracks which may appear randomly in the pavement. In each instance it is desirable to restrict the filler material to the area of the joint or crack, thus preventing damage to the pavement and giving the appearance of a more eflicient treatment.

Of the tools presently available, some require the operator to assume a kneeling position while Working the filler material into the joint in the pavement and while removing the excess filler material.

Other tools available present difiiculty in that although kneeling may not be necessary, using the tool from the standing position is awkward since the tar must be worked and guided into the joint generally alternating pushing and pulling with a constant downward pressure. Also the filler material must be kept from flowing outwardly from the joint thereby necessitating additional clean-up after the joint has been filled. This requires the operator to constantly change his position and oftentimes, in treating highway pavements, causing the operator to enter the adjacent lane of oncoming traffic.

It is an object of my invention to supply a tool which does not require the operator to bend or kneel when using the tool.

It is an additional object of my invention to supply a tool which allows the operator to guide the filler material into the joint and simultaneously remove the excess tar from the joint so that the tar and surface of the concrete are substantially co-planar.

Another object of my invention is to provide a tool which allows the operator to guide and level the filler material into the joint utilizing a motion toward the operator as well as from the operator without the operator changing his position.

A feature of my invention resides in the side Walls which act as guides and are spaced in a way which allows the proper amont of filler material to flow over and around the joint to be treated. In one embodiment of my tar distributor the forward portion of the side walls may diverge outwardly to facilitate the flow of filler material into the side walls of predetermined spacing and into the rear portion which retains the excess filler material after the tar has been leveled over the recess or joint.

Another feature of my invention is the provision for removing and replacing the spreader element when it is worn out.

An additional feature of my invention is the provision for directing the downward pressure rearwardly if additional pressure on the rear U-shaped retaining portion is required in order to obtain leveling, or alternately di-, recting downward pressure forwardly if less rearward pressure is desired.

A further feature of my invention is the provision for a hinging or swinging action at the point of attachment of the distributor element to the actuating mechanism. This allows the pavement engaging edge of the distributor member to follow the contour of the pavement.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of a distributor member which .resists the adhesion of tar or other like filler material.

A feature of an alternate embodiment of my invention resides in the use of a detachable distributor member which may be used on both the top side and the bottom side thus doubling the wear of the distributor member before it is removed and replaced.

These and other objects and features of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of my tar distributor showing it in use on a perspective view of a section of a concrete pavement.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of my tar distributor.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of my invention showing the two positions of the tar distributor member.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternate form of my tar distributor.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an alternate form of my tar distributor.

Reference .is now made to the accompanying drawings for a more detailed description of this invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional high-way pavement in perspective andin cross section. A transverse joint C is shown and my tar distributor D'is shown over the joint C.

The tar distributor D is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the tar distributor comprises a continuous band distributor member which may be divided into a rear tar retaining portion 10a, an intermediate portion 10b and a forward portion 10c. In this embodiment of my invention the rearward portion 10:: is substantially U-shaped. The intermediate portion 10b consists of spaced apart parallel side walls and the forward portion 100 of side walls diverging outwardly. The distributor member has a pavement engaging surface 11 and a top surface 12. The distributor member 10 is attached to a mounting frame 13 with screw and wing nut assemblies 14. The mounting frame 13 includes a bridging member 1311 attached to mounting frame side plates 15 having apertures '16 at predetermined intervals to accept screw and wing nut assemblies 14. Reinforcing side plates 15a are used if necessary. The side plates 15 also include apertures 17 spaced at predetermined intervals and adapted to receive a distributor member actuating device either rearwardly, toward the rear tar retaining portion, or forwardly, toward the diverging side walls 10c, to effect downward pressure on the rear tar retaining portion of the distributor member 100 or to effect downward pressuretowards the diverging forwad portion 100.

The distibutor member actuating device 19 is bifurcated having terminal portions 20 on each leg of the device adapted to be secured in apertures 17 at location 17a, 17b or 170 respectively. The bifurcated device 19 is attached to a handle 21 for manual operation.

FIG. 3 shows the two positions of the tar distributor, position 1 (P-1) and position 2 (P-2), which are available to the operator by simply rotating the handle 21 through 180 degrees. The distributor member actuating device 19 is swingably mounted in apertures 17 and therefore, on rotation of the handle 21 through 180 degrees, the pavement engaging surface 11 will remain in contact with the pavement. In position P- l the rearward portion is toward the operator and in position P-2 the rearward portion is away from the operator.

In operation the operator may work the material into a joint or recess by supplying pressure on the pavement engaging surface 11. through handle 21 and distributor member actuating device 19. This pressure may, of course, be exerted rearwardly or forwardly by proper location of the distributor member actuating device in apertures 17a, 17b or 170 of side plate 15. The operator, without cross ing a median line in a highway pavement, may rotate the handle 21 through 180 degrees thereby allowing the rearward portion, if it were located away from him, to become oriented toward him. Because the distributor member actuating device 19 is swingably mounted in aperture 17a, 17b, or the pavement engaging surface 11 quickly returns to a working position. This allows the operator to work a filler material, such as tar, back and forth into a joint or recess until it has properly been filled. In the preferred embodiment of my. invention the forward portion 100 is diverging which allows the operator to direct the flow of the filler material into the rear tar retaining portion 10a and secure additional penetration of the filler material into the joint or recess.

In FIG. 4 another form of distributor tool is shown which embodies my invention. FIG. 4 shows a side elevation view and FIG. 5 shows a plan view of my tar distributor. Distributor member 30 includes a rear tar retaining portion 30a, an intermediate portion 30b and a forward portion 300. Distributor member 30 has a pavement engaging surface 31a and 31b. Each surface may be alternately used by rotating the distributor member through degrees. This allows the rear tar retaining portion 30a to be located adjacent the operator and pavement engaging surface 31b to be used. Alternately, rear tar retaining portion 30a may be rotated away from the operator, thus utilizing pavement engaging surface 31a.

Side plates 32 have apertures 33 spaced at predetermined intervals for screw and nut assemblies. Apertures 34a, 3412 or 34c in side plates 32 are for the distributor member actuating device. Side plates 32 are located substantially downwardly from work engaging surface 31b and upwardly from work engaging surface 31a and parallel thereto.

FIG. 5 shows spacers 35 which bridge and separate side plates 32. Reinforcing plates 36 are .also shown. A distributor member actuating device 37 is bifurcated and includes a terminal portion on each leg thereof adapted.

to be received by apertures 34a, 34b or 34c respectively on side plates 32. A handle 39 is shown attached to distributor member actuating device 37.

The alternate form does not require the operator to rotate the handle 39 180 degrees. The operator simply raises the handle and the distributor element 30 will rotate from pavement engaging surface 30a through 180 degrees to pavement engaging surface 31b. Thiswill allow the rearward portion, if it were away from the operator, to assume a position toward the operator and allow the operator to continue a pushing or pulling operation di-:

recting and working the filler material into a joint or recess.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the tar distributor of my invention may assume different forms of swingably mounting a distributor member actuating device on the mounting frame or side plates such as, for example, hinging to the mounting frame bridge, or a ball and socket joint, without departing from the scope of my invention. It will be understood that these and other various changes may be made in the form, detail, arrange.

ment and proportions of the various parts of my invention without departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is: 1. A tar distributor for spreading and penetrating joints and recesses in pavements with tar and the like comprising: a distributor member of a material resistant to the adhesion of tar having a continuous pavement engaging edge and including a substantially U-shaped rear tar retaining wall with generally upright side walls co-extensive with the rear tar retaining wall having an inner and outer upright surface and extending longitudinally in the direction of travel of the distributor, each side wall having a forward portiondiverging outwardly,

a substantially rigid mounting frame including opposed generally upright side plates disposed longitudinally in the direction of travel of the distributor detachably mounted on the outside surface of the distributor member and having a forward portion diverging outwardly, a plurality of aligned opposed actuating means receiving apertures disposed longitudinally of the direction of travel of the distributor and means connecting the sideplates,

side reinforcing plates detachably mounted on the inner surfaces of the upright walls disposed longitudinally of the direction of travel and having forward portion diverging outwardly,

a bifurcated distributor actuating device having a mounting portion on each leg thereof pivotally mounted in the actuating device receiving apertures in the side plates of the mounting frame at a predetermined setting, and

a handle connected to the bifurcated actuating device.

2. A tar distributor device for spreading and penetrating joints and recesses and pavement with tar and the like comprising,

an elongate U-shaped distributor member formed of a material having a surface resistant to the adhesion of tar and the like and being disposed edgewise of the pavement to be treated, said distributor member includin a rear retaining wall .and opposed substantially parallel longitudinal side walls integrally formed with and extending forwardly from said rear wall and terminating in vertically disposed forward edges, the spacing between said side walls being substantially less than the distance between said rear wall and said front edges whereby the tar material contained between the side walls and rear wall will be confined closely adjacent the joint to be filled, said side walls and rear Wall terminating downwardly in a continuous surface engaging lower edge disposed substantially in a single plane,

a substantially rigid mounting frame including a pair of side plates detachably secured to the side walls, a rigid member extending between and being rigidly interconnected with said side plates and extending transversely between said side walls intermediate the ends of the latter,

an elongate handle having a pair of legs fixedly secured to one end thereof and extending therefrom, means on said legs and on said side plate defining a pivotal connection between said handle and said distributor member.

3. The tar distributor device as defined in claim 2, wherein said side walls and rear wall terminate upwardly in .a continuous upper edge, which may be selectively positioned downwardly for engaging the surface to be treated and wherein the forward portions of said side walls diverge outwardly.

4. The tar distributor device as defined in claim 2, wherein said pivotal means on said side plates and said legs comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures on said side plates, each aperture on one side plate being disposed in registering relation with an aperture in the other side plate, each leg having a terminal portion projecting inwardly for insertion into a pair of said apertures and being removable therefrom, whereby said handle may be connected to said distributor member in one of a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart positions.

5. The distributor device as defined in claim 2 wherein said distributor member is formed from a single piece of material and wherein said rigid member interconnecting said side plates is spaced above the upper edges of said side Walls.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,709,711 4/ 1929 Duffy 9439 2,161,488 6/ 1939 Stewart 9439 2,420,410 5/ 1947 Blankner 9439 3,227,055 1/1966 Glade 94-39 3,280,710 10/1966 Glade 9439 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

N. C. BYERS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TAR DISTRIBUTOT FOR SPREADING AND PENETRATING JOINTS AND RECESSES IN PAVEMENTS WITH TAR THE LIKE COMPRISING: A DISTRIBUTOR MEMBER OF A MATERIAL RESISTANT TO THE ADHESION OF TAR HAVING A CONTINUOUS PAVEMENT ENGAGING EDGE AND INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED REAR TAR RETAINING WALL WITH GENERALLY UPRIGHT SIDE WALLS CO-EXTENSIVE WITH THE REAR TAR RETAINING WALL HAVING AN INNER AND OUTER UPRIGHT SURFACE AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF THE DISTRIBUTOR, EACH SIDE WALL HAVING A FORWARD PORTION DIVERGING OUTWARDLY, A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID MOUNTING FRAME INCLUDING OPPOSED GENERALLY UPRIGHT SIDE PLATES DISPOSED LONGITUDINALLY IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF THE DISTRIBUTOR DETACHABLY MOUNTED ON THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF THE DISTRIBUTOR MEMBER AND HAVING A FORWARD PORTION DIVERGING OUTWARDLY, A PLURALITY OF ALIGNED OPPOSED ACTUATING MEANS RECEIVING APERTURES DISPOSED LONGITUDINALLY OF THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF THE DISTRIBUTOR AND MEANS CONNECTING THE SIDEPLATES, SIDE REINFORCING PLATES DETACHABLY MOUNTED ON THE INNER SURFACES OF THE UPRIGHT WALLS DISPOSED LONGITUDINALLY OF THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL AND HAVING FORWARD PORTION DIVERGING OUTWARDLY, 